Japanese Grand Prix Preview

 

After Max Verstappen had a 20^th birthday celebration to remember by taking his second career victory at Malaysia’s 19^th and final Grand Prix, round 17 of the 2017 FIA Formula 1 World Championship heads straight to the fast and flowing Suzuka International Racing Course for the 2017 Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix. This will be the 42^nd Japanese Grand Prix and the twenty-eighth time as part of the Formula 1 World Championship since the sport began in 1950.

 

 

A look at the Suzuka International Racing Course

Suzuka circuit is a permanent racing circuit located Suzuka City, Mie Prefecture, Japan and operated by the Mobilityland Corporation a subsidiary of Honda Motor Co. Ltd. Located in a theme park with the big wheel dominating the Suzuka Skyline, the circuit was designed as a test track for Honda in 1962 by John Hugenholtz (most notable designer of the Zandvoort, Zolder, Jarama and the stadium section of the Hockenheimring circuits), Suzuka is one of the few circuits in the world to have a figure-eight layout with the 1.2km back straight passing over the front section by an overpass. The circuit features some of the most challenging corners on the calendar including the Esses, the high-speed 130R and the famous Spoon Curve. The circuit has been modified four times during it’s time.

 

In 1987, having hosted sportscar racing and Formula 2 and having lost out initially to Fuji Speedway in the race to host the Japanese Grand Prix, Honda finally succeeded and Formula 1 had a new Japanese home (2007-2008 aside when the race was held at Fuji Speedway), the circuit has stayed ever since and has provided the scene for many nail-biting title deciding finales including the famous collisions between Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna in 1989 and 1990. These moments added to Suzuka’s appeal with fans around the world and of course the circuit is a favourite amongst the drivers due to its difficult and demanding challenges.

 

 

The Suzuka Circuit is 5.807km (3.609 miles) in length with 18 corners and runs uniquely in both a clockwise and anti-clockwise direction.

 

Race distance is 307.471km (109.062 miles) in length with 53 laps in total.

 

Kimi Raikkonen holds the fastest lap record with a 1:31.540 set in 2005 in his McLaren-Mercedes MP4-20.

 

Michael Schumacher holds the record for most victories at the Japanese Grand Prix with six.

 

McLaren are the most successful constructor at the Japanese Grand Prix with nine victories.

 

The Last Five Winners

 

 

2016: Nico Rosberg, Mercedes AMG F1. 2015: Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG F1. 2014: Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG F1. 2013: Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing. 2012: Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing.

 

Tyres

 

 

Pirelli will be bringing with them the red-branded Super Softs, the yellow-marked Soft tyres and the white-branded Medium rubber along with the green-branded Intermediate and blue-marked Full Wet tyre compounds in case of rain.

 

The McLaren-Honda duo of Fernando Alonso and Stoffel Vandoorne have opted for the most aggressive approach in the field at Honda’s home race selecting 10 sets of the faster Super Softs, two sets of the Softs and just one set of the Medium compound.

 

The Red Bull Racing pairing of Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen have gone with nine sets of the red-branded Super Softs, three sets of the Softs and one set of the Mediums.

 

World Championship contenders Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) and Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) have selected the same tyres for the weekend with each choosing seven sets of the Super Soft rubber, five sets of the Softs and one set of the white-marked Mediums.

 

Their respective team-mates Valtteri Bottas and Kimi Räikkönen have also copied each other selecting the same tyre choices for the weekend, opting for seven sets of the Super Softs, four sets of the Softs and two sets of the Mediums.

 

DRS Zones

As in 2016, there will only be a single DRS Zone at Suzuka which is on the main straight. The detection point is 50 metres before turn 16 and the activation point is 100 metres before the control line.

 

Pitlane Speed Limits

Pitlane speed limits will be 80km/h during practice, qualifying and the race.

 

The Situation

 

 

Lewis Hamilton returns to the land of the rising sun on top of the Driver’s Championship with 281 points and a 34-point lead over title-rival Sebastian Vettel who is second on 247 points and Valtteri Bottas is a further 59 behind the Briton in third on 222 points.

 

Mercedes heads to Japan sitting comfortably on top of the Constructors Championship with 503 points and a 118-point advantage over nearest rival Ferrari who are second on 385 points while Red Bull Racing is a further 233 points behind the Silver Arrows in third on 270 points.

 

2017 World Drivers Championship Standings – Top 10

1. Lewis Hamilton – 281 Points
2. Sebastian Vettel – 247 Points
3. Valtteri Bottas – 222 Points
4. Daniel Ricciardo – 177 Points
5. Kimi Räikkönen – 138 Points
6. Max Verstappen – 93 Points
7. Sergio Pérez – 76 Points
8. Esteban Ocon – 57 Points
9. Carlos Sainz – 48 Points
10. Nico Hulkenberg – 34 Points

 

2017 World Constructors Championship Standings

1. Mercedes AMG F1 – 503 Points
2. Scuderia Ferrari – 385 Points
3. Red Bull Racing – 270 Points
4. Force India F1 Team – 133 Points
5. Williams Martini Racing – 65 Points
6. Scuderia Toro Rosso – 52 Points
7. Renault Sport F1 – 42 Points
8. Haas F1 Team – 37 Points
9. McLaren-Honda F1 – 23 Points
10. Sauber F1 Team – 5 Points

 

The 2017 Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix weekend kicks off Friday October 6 with Free Practice 1 and 2, Free Practice and Qualifying Saturday October 7 and the 53 lap Race Sunday October 8.